The back always looks worse at first because the baby dreads get all smashed from sleeping. Just have patience and they will look great!

Dreads mature differently, depending on where they are on your head, and how long and thick they are. For me, actually the back looks pretty good cause of all that laying on 'em, but the top is the slowest to dread.

I've read the thicker each actual hair is, the longer it takes. Don't know if this is true. FWIW, my hair is very fine, very curly and I have TONS of it - and I started by backcombing after trying a bunch of other stuff, and they are locking up REALLY well...Just ignore 'em for a while (while washing, of course); they tend to dread while you're not looking, LOL